Week 7: Addiction and Substance Related Disorders

Vocabulary and conceptual flashcards covering terms, medications, mnemonics, and assessment tools related to addiction and substance-related disorders from nursing lecture notes.

Addiction

A compulsive and maladaptive dependence on a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, opiates, or tobacco) or a behavior (e.g., gambling, Internet, pornography) that typically produces adverse psychological, physical, economic, social, or legal ramifications.

Tolerance

A state in which an individual requires larger or more frequent doses of a substance to achieve the desired effect.

Withdrawal

A series of physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person who is physically dependent on a substance stops using or significantly reduces their intake.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations, often associated with the early stages of substance use behavior.

Alcohol withdrawal delirium

Commonly known as delirium tremens or DTs, it is marked by acute distress brought on by drinking cessation in a person who is physically dependent on alcohol.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Also known as dual diagnosis, these are individuals who are chemically dependent and also suffer from serious psychological distress.

Motivational Interviewing

A collaborative relationship between the healthcare provider and the client that honors the autonomy of the client to make informed decisions, where the nurse listens more than talks.

CAGE Assessment

A four-question screening tool for alcohol use: Have you ever felt you should Cut down? Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt Guilty? Have you ever had an Eye Opener?

Relapse

The recurrence of substance-abusing behaviors after a significant period of abstinence.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

A condition in offspring resulting from excessive use of alcohol by a pregnant woman.

Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome

Neurological conditions associated with the chronic stage of alcohol use disorder and severe withdrawal complications.

lorazepam (Ativan)

A medication used for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal and managing co-occurring disorders.

disulfiram (Antabuse)

A medication used in the pharmacotherapy of substance abuse recovery that creates an adverse reaction when alcohol is consumed.

naloxone (Narcan)

A medication used in emergency management for opiate overdose.

naltrexone (Revia)

A medication utilized in the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence.

ADDICTED Mnemonic

A tool for recognizing addiction: A-activities given up, D-dependence (tolerance), D-dependence (withdrawal), I-Intrapersonal consequences, C-can't cut down, T-time-consuming, D-duration greater than intended.

WILD Mnemonic

A tool for identifying substance abuse consequences: W-work, school, or home role failure; I-interpersonal or social consequences; L-legal problems; D-dangerous use.

Substance-induced disorders

A variation of addiction involving disorders directly caused by the ingestion of a drug of abuse.